CLEMSON – The release of Clemson’s depth chart for Saturday’s season-opening game against Furman contained few if any surprises, although the listing of Adam Choice as the No. 2 running back – behind Travis Etienne and ahead of Tavien Feaster – likely raised a few eyebrows.

Mildly surprising? Perhaps.

Stunning? Not really.

Feaster was hampered early in fall camp while recovering from what coach Dabo Swinney called “a little meniscus procedure” while Choice was busy drawing praise for his effort and work ethic.

Feaster, a junior out of Spartanburg, started 11 games and had 669 yards and seven touchdowns rushing last season; Choice had 326 yards and six touchdowns in 2017.

“It was very very close,” co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Tony Elliott said Monday. “Feaster was a little bit hampered coming into camp, but I think he’s back to where he needs to be. In the meantime, Choice took a lot of reps.”

Choice, who graduated in December, will trot out second – at least against Furman.

“There’s no doubt he’s the leader in my room,” Elliott said. “So when you look at the situation and we evaulaute the depth chart, we tell guys all the time that the senior’s going to get the nod.

“Adam has paid his dues and he’s produced in camp and that’s where we’re going to start. It could change over the course of time, but that’s where we’re going to start.”

The 6-foot, 210-pound Powell returned just three kicks last season for a total of 65 yards, but is no stranger to success in the return game. As a high school senior, Powell averaged 36 yards on 21 kickoff returns and in the 2015 Shrine Bowl he totaled 203 yards on three returns, including one for a 98-yard touchdown.

Jackson Carman

Clemson’s man-child already is carving his niche. The 6-5, 345-pound freshman has moved up to No. 2 on the depth chart behind All-America offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt.

“Jackson Carman was a guy that I think everybody knew physically and from a talent standpoint was a guy we were going to try to count on early,” Elliott said. “With Blake Vinson not being able to practice much with his ankle, it gave Jackson an opportunity to get more reps and he has really really taken ownership of conditioning his body to be ready to play.”